Whether you run a big time eBay business or you simply sell various trinkets from your garage on occasion; everyone can stand to trim some of the fat from their shipping charges. However, as a seller you should continuously strive to package your items securely. Pinpointing a harmonious medium between these two ends of the spectrum can sometimes prove to be difficult.
eBay now has the option for buyers to search auctions by shipping as well as price; making it all the more important for you to be frugal with your packaging. Don't be mislead, though, as waiving the shipping fee and tacking it on to your reserve price will cause eBay to claim a higher percentage of your profits.
If you are like most eBay sellers; the majority of the items you sell are less than two pounds. The US Postal Service offers the most cost-effective means for shipping items of this size and the free, yes, I did say free, Ebay/USPS co-branded boxes are an excellent perk (http://ebaysupplies.usps.com).
If you are planning on shipping a great deal, or have a lot of weighty packages, your best option is to ship via DHL. While the US Postal service is primarily the cheapest, DHL offers a lower cost than UPS and FedEx; and if you have a membership with Sellsi.com (http://www.sellsi.com/), you can save up to an additional forty percent.
Before you ship, it is important that you make sure the item does not rattle in the box. Try not to skimp on the packing peanuts or bubble wrap. Believe it or not, the best place to purchase inexpensive shipping materials is on eBay! Do a search for ?packaging material? or ?shipping material? and you will find pages and pages of items that will fit the needs of both small and large sellers.
Are you looking to obtain more customers? Of course you are! Buyers appreciate sellers that will reduce shipping costs when they purchase multiple items from you. Not only does it save them money but it also saves you the expense of having to ship two, or more, separate packages. Offer this benefit in your auctions and you might see your sales increase.
The days of a buying a digital camera for under a buck and charging $150.00 for shipping are over. Not only does eBay frown on this practice but buyers have become aware of this trick and prefer to deal with a seller that offers reasonable shipping charges in their auction listings. Be fair and upfront with your shipping charges, and your shipping schedule, and your customers might come back for more of your items later.
As much as cost of shipping is an important matter to consider, it is equally critical to make sure your customers are satisfied with the condition in which they receive their items. In my experience, the top three reasons eBay buyers leave negative feedback for an auction is due to a product not arriving on time, a product arriving damaged or the cost of shipping being too high. A happy medium of these three will help to ensure customer satisfaction?and increase your feedback rating.
In today's business world, shipping is an essential part of getting products to your store and to your customers; especially now that many goods are produced in other countries. With gas prices climbing higher than five dollars a gallon, shipping can cost a pretty penny though. That is why more businesses are investing some time and money in a search for discount shipping rates. After all, if your business ships a lot of goods, you can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars by finding better rates.
Fortunately, when you face the challenge of moving goods, there are several different shipping companies to choose from. The plethora of competitors in the market can help keep prices reasonable, but it also creates a sea of options to sort through because individual carriers usually specialize in different services. For example, Carrier A might offer the best pricing on small package shipping while carrier B has the best rates on full truck load shipments. If you don't want to spend all your time searching for good deals though, one option would be to turn all your shipping needs over to a broker.
A broker's knowledge and experience is valuable because shipping rates are influenced by many different factors. For example, freight dimensions, weight, distance, speed, and quantity can all impact which carrier would be the best choice for your needs. The relationships that brokers have established with major carriers, warehouses and smaller shipping companies can help them find good deals as well.
In addition to finding the best rates for your shipping needs, a broker will orchestrate everything from pick-up and delivery, to tracking, customs, and bills of lading. This can save you a lot of time and frustration and will allow you to focus more of your time on other aspects of your business.
Since brokers need to communicate with several parties to orchestrate shipping, look for a company that provides extraordinary customer service. A few minute on the phone with them could give you a general feel for the emphasis they put on good customer service but referrals and testimonials are also good indicators since they usually come from unbiased sources. For complete satisfaction, you should be able to contact them easily, they should be very reliable, and they should offer competitive prices. If you can find a broker with all of these qualities, their services would be well-worth the investment.
Both Bruce Moilan & Art Gib are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bruce Moilan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, How to Sell on Ebay and How to Sell on Ebay. Increase your credibility...and your bottom line! Sellsi helps build trust in online auctions. By representing only the best eBay sellers, Sellsi has created a network of the most reputable merchants on the web. The Sellsi Seal instills confidence and add. Bruce Moilan's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
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